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Lexus GX and LX future may be in doubt

With the debut of an all-new RX, Lexus is in a position for continued strong sales in the luxury SUV arena. The fourth-generation RX has grown, making room for the new NX model beneath it. But further up the ladder, things could change for the GX and LX. In an interview with Autoblog at the 2015 New York Auto Show, Lexus executive vice president Mark Templin gave some hints at the future of his brand's SUV lineup. "With NX and RX, we have a really good one-two punch in the crossover segments, and we think we can cover most of the markets with that," he said. As for the larger, three-row GX and LX models, which are built on a traditional ladder-frame chassis, things aren't so clear. Templin noted the the success of both models all over the world – the LX is the best-selling Lexus in Saudi Arabia. The same is true for sales here, he said: "We do very well with those products in the United States – GX has been a great product for us in the US for the last couple of years since its initial introduction. But the future of those vehicles longer term is in doubt because of regulations that are being driven by governments all over the world." Don't start stockpiling LX 570s in anticipation of shortages just yet. Templin didn't give any specifics; he just notes that tightening fuel economy and emissions regulations could affect product planning. In our analysis, if and when GX rides off into the sunset, Lexus still needs a midsize, three-row SUV to fill that gap. The most likely candidate for that is some variation on the RX. Whether or not that's the case, don't expect a BMW-like proliferation of body styles from Toyota's luxury division. "It creates problems. It creates complexity, that's hard for every step of the process," Templin said, nothing that too many models stresses the design department, manufacturing, and even dealers inventory selection. As for the bottom end of the lineup, Templin wouldn't comment on a compact SUV below the NX, saying "I think there are more potential options for us in the future, but we're not trying to grow the number of models we have in our lineup. It's not really what our core business is about." For now, Lexus and Templin are focused on launching the RX, which accounts for three of every 10 Lexus models ever sold. The 2016 model, available in RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid versions, goes on sale by the end of the year. Related Video:

Lexus UX crossover photo and video released ahead of Geneva

At long last, we have eyes on the production version of the Lexus UX compact crossover that will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The retail-ready model was previewed by the UX concept shown at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, which looked like Batman's loaner vehicle while his Tumbler was in the shop. As one would expect, the UX that customers will be able to buy has filtered out all of the bizarro, leaving what looks like a little Lexus NX sprinkled with unique design cues, such as the upright vents in front and the full-width taillight. Lexus calls the UX its "first urban crossover," for reasons we can't imagine; even the Lexus LX, which could probably drive from Boston to Reykjavik if given a long-enough snorkel, only gets dirty in Jackson Hole or at Whole Foods. More reasonably, Lexus promises "exceptional body rigidity," a low center of gravity thanks to a hunkered-down platform borrowed from the Toyota C-HR, and handling that "will be as agile as a hatchback." This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Engine specifics will likely wait until Geneva, but we do know that Lexus trademarked UX 200, UX 250, and UX 250h a couple of years ago. The big-brother NX comes in 300, 300 F Sport, and 350h guises, but is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo putting out 235 hp in standard spec. Lexus will need room between the UX and NX, but UX competitors like the Audi A3 pump out 200 hp, and the BMW X1 serves up 228 hp. The teaser video above reveals the instrument panel, topped by a widescreen infotainment center that looks like a minimalist rework of the Lexus RX interior. The gauge cluster has physical dividers but appears to be completely digital. You can watch Lexus' livestream from Geneva for all the details we don't have now, or just check back here on March 6 for the particulars and the photos. Related Video: Motorsports Geneva Motor Show Lexus Crossover Luxury Videos lexus ux

BMW tops Consumer Reports 2023 Brand Report Card

Feels like we wrote about Consumer Reports' 2022 Brand Report Car and 10 Top Picks a few weeks ago, but it was last April. So the mag is back with a ranked roster of 32 brands and 10 vehicles in four categories for your debating pleasure. Starting with the brands, last year's top three were Subaru, Mazda and BMW. This year, the Munich crew climbed two spots to win the prize thanks to "Superb road test scores and solid results in CR’s reliability and owner satisfaction surveys." Subaru narrowly fell to second, maintaining its four-year run in the top three. Mini, eighth last year, jumped five spots to get the last step on the podium. The rest of the top 10 were Lexus (up one spot from last year), Honda (down one spot from last year), Toyota (up three), Genesis (up 12), Mazda (down six), Audi (down three) and Kia (up eight). The magazine and testing outfit says its Brand Report Card "[reveals] which automakers are producing the most well-performing, safe, and reliable vehicles based on CRÂ’s independent testing and member surveys," and that "Brands that rise to the top tend to have the most consistent performance across their model lineups." Last year's top 10 had six automakers from Japan, three from Germany (giving Mini credit for England), none from the U.S. or South Korea, and five luxury brands. This year's list counts five makes from Japan, two from Germany because Porsche fell out of the top ten, two from South Korea, still none from the U.S., and four luxury brands. Buick again ranked as the best domestic, dropping to 12th after being 11th last year. The big mover was Lincoln, its 10-place jump up to 16th attributed to better reliability from the Corsair and Nautilus. Tesla's improved overall reliability saw it climb six spots to 17th. Dodge climbed one spot to 15th. Jeep got out of the penalty box in last to come second-to-last. Land Rover fell three places into the penalty spot.  CR's top 10 vehicle models The 10 Top Picks list is practically a new list. Only two holdovers made it to 2023, those being the Subaru Forester and Kia Telluride.